The Men Who Built America

America has emerged onto the world stage

rebuilt over the past five decades

by John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan.

They've reigned uncontested for years.

Only now the government is cracking down

on big business in a big way.

- (Blues Saraceno playing "Save My Soul")

The case will be the biggest challenge

of Rockefeller's life.

A fight that will determine the future of the country.

As Rockefeller is forced to defend the company

he built from nothing

into one of the most powerful

corporation's on earth.

Buy now. Buy everything.

Buy the whole company.

(people murmuring)

It's Rockefeller.

- The United States versus Standard Oil.

This hearing is now in session.

Please state your name.

John Rockefeller.

- Mr. Rockefeller, can you tell the court

how in just one year, in 1872,

you acquired all the refineries in Cleveland?

I don't remember.

- (gasps) - (people murmuring)

It was 36 years ago.

- You used intimidation to wipe out the competition,

did you not?

I mean, so ruthlessly that it became known

as the Cleveland massacre.

- I don't remember any massacre.

(people murmuring)

- Are you aware of payments made by Standard

Oil to a Senator, $15,000 to block a bill

hostile to Standard Oil?

I don't remember.

- We have a list of bribes made by Standard Oil

to politicians between 1903...

- I stepped down as Chief Executive

of Standard Oil in 1902.

I can't answer for any incidents that occurred

after that date.

- You are still President of Standard Oil,

are you not?

It's an honorary title.

Much like that of President of the United States.

(laughter)

- Can I remind you Mr. Rockefeller of the seriousness

of the charges brought against you.

As John Rockefeller fights to keep

his monopoly intact a new generation of businessmen

is facing a new set of challenges as they struggle

to get their companies off the ground.

- I have set out to build the best motor car

for popular use.

The Ford motor car is durable and light,

weighing only 1,000lbs.

It has a four cylinder engine and is capable

of speeds up to 45 miles an hour.

It is priced at $900 compared to $1 500

for the average licensed car.

Which makes it the first car

affordable for the common man.

Young entrepreneur Henry Ford

has created a new kind of car.

But in order to sell it he needs to get permission

from the association of licensed automobile

manufacturers, also known as ALAM.

ALAM owns the patent on the automobile giving them

complete control over who can manufacture and sell cars.

They are, in a sense, a giant car monopoly

and Ford's future now rests in their hands.

Thank you Mr. Ford.

We'll be in touch.

Thank you, gentleman.

Ford is hopeful he'll be approved

by ALAM, allowing him to start his own business

and to pursue his dream for the future

of the car industry.

- When Ford entered the automobile business

people didn't drive their own cars, they had drivers.

And so cars were seen as this luxury item.

Ford's insight was that cars could be an every day item.

They could be very utilitarian so that it was

within the reach of ordinary people.

Ford has spent years developing his car

for the common man.

He builds his first model at the age of 33 and calls

it the quadricyle.

But the vehicle is expensive to produce

and prone to breaking down.

Ford's second attempt-- Model A--is much more suited

to the needs of modern America.

But he can't begin selling it without permission from ALAM.

- ALAM was successful in blackmailing

other automobile companies saying,

"you have to be licensed by us or we will sue you.

And we own this patent."

After months of deliberation the ALAM

board reaches its decision.

Henry Ford's application is rejected.

It's a crushing blow.

The auto cartel has stopped him in his tracks.

But Henry Ford is determined to show the world

that to succeed in America all you need

is integrity and ingenuity.

The next generation of businessmen is on the rise.

Henry Ford is battling a powerful cartel

for the right to make a car he believes in.

The Association of Licensed Automobiles

manufacturers owns the patent on the automobile

and budding car makers like Henry Ford need

its permission to sell cars.

After being rejected by ALAM, Ford is left with few options

but he isn't about to give up on his dreams.

- Ford thought that the whole thing was ridiculous.

That there could not be a patent on the idea of the automobile.

That the automobile was not the property

of one single individual.

Ford is determined to get around

ALAM'S stranglehold on the auto industry.

But he's just one man going up against a virtual monopoly.

If he's going to be a success, without ALAM,

he's going to need to make a name for himself.

- It's a very simple thing on the make or break

decision: it's the gut and that's what separates

the great leaders and the great successes.

And if you can't listen to it and you don't have it,

you're never gonna get it 'cause it's never gonna come

from someplace else.

Henry Ford challenges the owner

of the biggest car company in the country to a race.

Alexander Winton is also known as the fastest

driver in America and a prominent member ofALAM.

Beating Winton with a car of his own design has the potential

to give Ford the boost he needs to start

his own company.

There's just one problem,

Henry Ford had never raced a care before.

- It's a David and Goliath scene.

Winton's famous, world record holder,

has this fancy race car.

Ford, the local boy made good.

Henry Ford's upset win over the fastest man

in America makes him instantly famous.

- Ford's a hero and this is really the first big time,

I think, that he becomes a celebrity.

The Ford name gets out there and he milks it

for everything that it's worth,

and it was a very crucial part of Ford

getting investors for the Ford Motor Company.

Ford raises $28,000--or $700,000 today.

Enough money to build his first factory in Highland Park,

Michigan and before long he's producing 1 5 cars a day,

priced low enough for almost any American.

- When it finally does break through,

it is sort of gratifying because you--you're

starting to see the reality of what you always believe.

That--that the vision you had that someday the world

would be different is starting to move in that direction.

Henry Ford's early success puts him on the map.

But ALAM takes notice and hits him with a lawsuit

claiming he's breaching their patent on the automobile.

- You see all these huge conglomerations

suing people over patents.

The big guys are taking advantage of the little guys,

trying to find whatever angle they could

and using their might.

And those with the best tricksters win.

While Henry Ford prepares to bring

his fight for the little guy to a Detroit court,

the trial to bring down Standard Oil

is starting to get ugly.

- Mr. Rockefeller, we have evidence that you placed

several refineries out of business.

Not to my knowledge.

- Do you accept that Standard Oil has enjoyed

profitability higher than most industries?

- Our profitability is no higher than that of US Steel.

I haven't heard of anyone attempting

to break up U.S. Steel.

While Rockefeller is fighting

to save his company,

J.P. Morgan has been able to keep his steel monopoly

of the government's hit list.

He's used his power and influence to broker

a number of deals for the nation applying the might

of U.S. Steel to strengthen the country's infrastructure.

But Morgan's biggest deal is just getting started

in Central America.

For years, attempts have been made to build a canal

linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Such a canal would cut East to West travel time

in half saving ships over 8,000 miles per trip.

But no one's had the power to make it happen, until now.

J.P. Morgan acts as the middle man for the government

and raises $40 million dollars - OR $7 billion today--

to get the project started.